Illuminating means



Feb. 28, 1933. M, H EGAN 1,899,085 l ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed NOV'. 24, 1931 2 Sllee'Ls--Sheei'l l FLlg. 1.

Feb. 28, 1933. M H. EGAN v 1,899,085

ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed Nov. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 YELLow' GREEN AMBER LAVENDER PiNK MAGNET @www Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED ,s'mris's`Y` Mino H. EGAN, oF'FRANxL'IN, IDAHO ILLUMINATING .linens Application filed November 24 1931. Serial No. 577,128. ,Y

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel, simple, effective and compact apparatus by which variegated, lights are caused to be thrown upon any surface or 5 object desired. For example, the means may be employed in a home for illuminating draperies, windows and the like, or it can be placed ona porch for illuminating the same. In like manner it may be employed in store windows or in connection with signboards `20 ture as shown in Figure 1, with a portion broken away.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the en'd` opposite to that shown in Figure 3.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are respectively sectional views taken on the lines 5, 6"-6 and 7 7 of Figure 2.

FigureS is a planview indicating how'different colors may be employed.

In the embodiment disclosed, a xed tubu- 30 lar axle 9 is provided, on which is journaled an illuminating drum. This drum consists of heads 10 and 11 provided with hubs 12 having ball bearings 13 on the axle 9.V The ends of the axle, however, project beyond the drum.

One of the heads, as 10, preferably has a series of ears 14 cut from the material thereof and inset into clips that support a rubber or other yielding ring 15 constituting in eii'ect a track gear. Adjacent said head and within the drum, and mounted on the axle 9, is a base 16 having upstanding ears 17 to which is pivoted a bracket 18. Mounted on this bracket and offset from the pivot axis is a 5 small electric motor 19, which includes a 50 motor 19 being offset, the arrangement is ksuch drive shaft 20 having a friction gear element in the form of a roller 21 that rides on the periphery of the rubber ring 15. The bracket 18, having a loose pivotal connection and the that the roller 21 riding on the periphery of the ring 15 .supports the motor and the weight of' the motor in turn serves tomaintain a proper frictional driving the roller 21 and the ring 15. ,v

About midwayl between the heads of the drum there is mounted on the axle v9 an angle bracket 22 on which is pivoted an arm 23 that is held in different positions by'its frictional mounting. On this arm is pivoted no' another arm 24 that can be moved to different positions with respectto the armv 23 yand is held by frictional contact. The free ends of the two 'arms' 23 and 24 carry'oppositel'y extending electric lamps 25 which can thus be 65 dierentlyY positioned within the drum@ A supply cordfor electric current is Vshown at 26.` This cord extends, through the bore of the axle and is suitably connected to vthe l lamps 25. ..Anotherjcord shown at 27 is connected to the motor 19,I These are suitably connected to a source of 'electricalenergy and each may have a controlling switch 27 a, 27 b so that either the lamps or the motor may be individually operated.

The head 11 of the drum is preferably provided with relatively large openings'28 (see Figure 6) in order that accessl may be had to the lamps and to the motor. These vopenings are normally closed by transparent or 84 translucent cover sheets 29 that may be of different colors, as indicated, their outer mar'- gins being engaged'behind keeper lips 3 0 (see Y Figure 4), and their inner Asides being retained behind turnbuttons 31 mounted on the 85- central bar 32 of the head. l

The annular wall of the drumconsists o one or more sheets 33 of transparent or translucenty material that may be made up of secv tions of Vdifferent'colors, as indicated in Figure8. Where the device is to be used vwithin a house or is otherwise protected from the elements, a flexible sheet` or flexible sheets of any well-,known material may be employed.

If thefdevice is to be used outdoors, the'ma-v g5 terial maybe of weather-proofsubstance,

Where a flexible such as cell'uloid or glass. sheet is utilized'it may be backed up by av sheet of `screenmaterial 34. AIn vany event,

this peripheral or cylindrical wallis prefera- 100 PATENf'r-VOFFICE f c"ntact Nein l o betwe 5 5 bly fastenedto the heads by having the material, of said heads cut into lips 35 and 36 that are inturned and alternately engage the outer and inner sides of the walls. To hold the drum heads against separation tie rods 37 are employed that connect the same and 'u are preferably located within the cylindrical wall.

VVV

.1t-may" be' asirabigfq vhat@ 'only me "Side of thedrum exposed, and where thisis' Vthe case, a semi-cylindrical opaque shield38 is employedwhichextends around one side and has arms 39 secured to hubs 40 that are fixedv Y "to ther-*projecting ends ofthe' aXleg9. If it is Vdesired to'have a display sign, it isonly neces-f sary;to'perforate theshield insome suitable mannen asindic'ated atin Figure 1.

Y u f sired mY an'ner, but preferably hanger links 42V fixedeto Ithe hubsV 40 `and thus serve, to securely The device may-be supported in any'def are employed, thelowerends of which are hold'V the axle- 9 against rotation. VThese hanger links may havelhooks 43 at their upper ends forrengagem'entwith eyes 44 fastened to aceiling or other support- Y It believedthat'the operationI ofthe de vicewillbe clear. Whencurrentis supplied to thecordlt, the lamps will Ybe illuminated andthe motor 195- wi1l be; operated. As a consequence `the drive `roller. or l Agear 2l` willr rotateonfthe ring gear v15, causing the drum f to be slowly rotated.' As it is thus rotated,

' light caused to f iowover the shades and draperies or it may be hung upon a 'porch the differentsections of the cylindrical-wall will pass before the lamps andcause variaV gated lights to Y traverse any object placed within the range'of the light, thus producing a peculiarly-beautiful vvand artistic: effect. By relativelyadjusting the lamps y25 the dif- 'ferentfcolors kmay be made to overlap and increase the variegations and shades.- Thus the vdevice may be hung in awindow and the withthe shield outermost and the light'will seemingly move over the walls;V Similar effects maybe secured lin show-windows or onbillfboards, signs, etc'. n

Fromthe foregoing, itis thought'that the construction, operation and many advantages 'supports the Weightrof the driving member,

said weight securing-a driving coaction bei tween the drive and track gear element.

2. In an illuminating apparatus, the combination with illuminating: means including a rotatable display member, of a circular track gear element mounted on the Ydisplay member, andY a. pivotally supported motor having an offset Vdrive gear element that rests Yon the track gear element and thereby supports thei weight of the motor, said weight securing a` driving coaction between the drive and trackgear elements.

3. In an illuminating apparatus, thecomv 4. In an illuminating appaatus, 1'fhe bination with an aXle,of, illuminating means including a drum rotatably mounted on the axleand havingheads, a circular tracklon the inside of one of the heads, anda motoi'pivotally supported rfonthe aXleand having a drive gear elementyresting on the track and supporting the motor,

' 5. yInan illuminating apparatus, the 'com` bination with an aXle, Vof illuminating means including a vdrum rotatably'mountedfon the aXleand having heads, a circular'track on the inside of one of the headsQa base on the axle within the dru1n,` a bracket pivotallymounted on the base, amotor on V,the bracket. offset therefrom to overbalance it, and a'drive gear element for the motor resting on "the track and supporting 'the motor againstits lover-k balancing movement.

- In testimony whereof, I/'aiix signature;l

f l MILQl H, EGAN. e

of the herein described invention will be ap-v Y parent to those skilled in the art without Y further description, and it will be understood that various changes in thev size, shape, proportion` and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutv departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.'

What I claim, is:

.1. In'an illuminatingapparatus,V the combination with illuminating means including arotatable' displaymember, of a circular track gear Velement mounted/on the display member, and a 'movably supported driving 'v member having a Vdrive :gear element that rests on the track gear element and thereby 

